Heel plate



June 23, 1925. 1,543,024

w. A. MORRIS HEEL PLATE Fiied Sept. 22. 1922 A TTORNEYS Patented June 23, 1925.

UNITED STATES v 1,543,024 PATENT- OFFICE.

wiLLIAM ALEXANDER MORRIS, or iii. nnno, OKLAHOMA.

HEEL PLATE.

Application filed September 22, 1922. Serial No. 589,829.

/ Plates, of which the'following is a specification. I

This invention relates to heel plates especially adapted for use with elastic heels such as rubber'heels or the like, and the object of the-invention is to provide a heel plate of this character which may be conveniently and readily, though firmly and securely, organized with a rubberheel and in such manner as not to impair the elastic properties and action of the rubber heel and yet at the same time endow the heel with the desired antislipping and wearing qualities.

Another object is to provide a heel plate of this character which may be conveniently produced from a single piece of metal by manufacturing facilities readily available and which is consequently economical and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, the heel plate being also of such simple construction as to be readily applied to the heel.

Other objects and advantages of the invention reside in certain novel features of the construction, combination and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part, of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view, in bottom plan, showing a shoe having a rubber heel equipped with a heel plate embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in section on line 2 of Figure 1; V

Figure 3 is a similar view on line 33 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view, showing the heel plate.

Referring to the drawings wherein for the sake of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 designates an elastic heel such as a rubber heel or the like which is associated with the shoe in the usual manner. The heel plate which constitutes the present invention is designated generally at 17 and as shown in the drawings it may be constructed of a single piece of resilient sheet metal formed to provide a bodyportion 12 of general sector shape, the outer or treadsurface of the body portion being serrated or'roughened, as at 13, in order that the heel plate may be anti-slipping when in use. Also, as clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings the body portion 12 is transversely curved for a purpose which will hereinafter be more fully'described.

The small end of the body portion 12 mergesinto a' prong 14: which is integral with the body portion and which, though offset slightly from the plane of the body portion, extends longitudinally therefrom and in approximate parallelism therewith. The prong 14 1s not, however, exactly parallel with the body portion but inclines slightly from the plane of the body portion in order that the prong may be offset from the body portion and in order that it may become properly embedded in the heel as will be presently described. Preferably, however, the arrangement of the prong with respect to the body portion is such that the longitudinal center line of the body'portion when extended also constitutes the longitudinal center line of the prong. As shown in the drawings the prong also tapers from toward its point. Apointed lug 15 is provided and this lug is preferably formed by pressing a portion of the body portion 11 inwardly so as to form the lug integral with the body portion. Also this lug 1 1 is located at about the center of the body portion and extends substantially at right angles to the plane of the body portion. The free end of the lug is sharpened whereby the lug may be readily associated with the heel.

In applying the heel plate to a heel, the prong 14 is inserted into the material of the heel and the lug 15 is also driven into the body of the heel, as shown in Figure 2. This causes the side edges of the transof the heel due to the transverse curvature of the body portion relieves the assembly of any sharp edges or shoulders thereby precluding any possibility of the heel plate catching or striking projections or other objects liable to engage shoulders or sharp edges. At the same time the heel plate presents a serrated or roughened surface adapted to prevent slipping and also gives the heel the desired strength and wearing qualities. Referring especially to Figure 2 of the drawings it will be seen that while the heel plate is firmly and securely fastened to the heel it nevertheless in nowise interferes with the elastic or cushioning action of the heel since none of its elements engage the leather making up the shoe or otherwise effect or impair the cushioning properties of the material Whitli comprises theheel.

I claim: I

1. A heel plate for use with elastic heels and comprising a transversely curved body portion adapted to be fitted to the heel in such manner that the side edges of the body portion are embedded in the material of the heel, a prong extending longitudinally from one end of the body portion and inclined slightly with respect to the plane of the body portion, the prong being adapted to be inserted into the body of the heel and being adapted to lie at a slight distance above the tread surface of the heel, the juncture between the prong and the body portion being curved, a lug integrally formed with the body portion and adapted to be driven into the heel, said lug being apertured, and a fastening device adapted to be driven through the material of the heel and through the aperture of said lug.

2. A heel plate for use with elastic heels and comprising a transversely curved body portion having its tread surface curved, 3. prong extending longitudinally from one end of the body portion and slightly in clined with respect thereto and adapted to be embedded in the material of the heel, and a lug extending centrally of the body portion and formed integral therewith and adapted to be driven into the body of the heel, in combination with a driven fastening device cooperable with said lug.

3. A heel plate having a body portion, alug integral with the body portion intermediate its ends and extending substantially at right angles thereto, said lug being arranged to be driven into the body of a heel, said lug being apertured in such manner as to be adapted to receive a fastening device engageable with a heel.

WILLIAM ALEXANDER MORRIS. 

